New Zealand - Autumn 2009 highlights
Calm settled weather, vibrant colour-filled landscapes and a long list of seasonally charged events make autumn a prime time to visit New Zealand.
While the country settles into an après-summer phase where business is in full swing, parliament sitting and school back in session - visitors have free reign to explore at leisure. With pleasant temperatures, inviting water and easy access to top holiday spots, March and April are key months particularly for tourists from the Northern Hemisphere.
Snap happy
New Zealand is renowned for exquisite light at this time of the year so autumn is a great time to capture the country on camera.
With clear bright blue skies and dramatic autumn colours, especially in the south, film-makers and photographers are in their element - and so are visitors on walking, tramping or cycling holidays.
Cooler weather makes getting about easier, and the change of season often brings attractive discounts from tour operators around the country.
Harvest time
With daylight saving observed through until 5 April, evening is still a good time to enjoy alfresco dining and savour the huge variety of fresh food and wines in abundance during harvest season.
Autumn is the time when fruit trees are groaning, grapes are plump and sweet, seafood is plentiful, and gardens lush with home-grown vegetables.
Food and wine events often coupled with outdoor concerts and jazz festivals provide visitors with many opportunities to experience New Zealand’s award winning produce in natural surroundings with million dollar views.
There’s a long list of events to tempt the more adventurous away from the table and out into the unspoilt countryside, and there’s no better time to enjoy famously friendly Kiwi hospitality.
Autumn events
Snapper Classic - Northland
3 - 7 March 2009
Lion Red 90 Mile Beach Snapper Classic is a single species 5-day fishing tournament on Ninety Mile Beach, Northland. In its 26th year, the event is the largest surfcasting event in the world with a $50,000 first prize, and total prize pool of NZ$250,000.
Snapper Classic
Wellington Jazz Festival
5 - 8 March 2009
Four days of concerts and outdoor events featuring national and international musicians including the Mingus Big Band from New York.
Wellington Jazz Festival
Auckland Festival 2009
5 - 22 March 2009
This biennial festival includes more than 200 events - theatre, dance, cabaret, circus, concerts, exhibitions from around the Pacific and New Zealand.
Auckland Festival 2009
Ellerslie International Flower Show - Christchurch
11 - 15 March 2009
The 5-day Ellerslie International Flower Show has moved south to the 'Garden City' of Christchurch, and is expected to attract up to 65,000 visitors.
Ellerslie International Flower Show
Michael Hill NZ Golf Open - Arrowtown
12 - 15 March 2009
Co-sanctioned by the European and Australasian PGA Tours, this is New Zealand’s richest sporting event with prize money of NZ$1,500,000. A field of top class players will tackle the greens at The Hills, a challenging new championship course with spectacular views over the Queenstown area.
Michael Hill New Zealand Golf Open
WOMAD - New Plymouth
13 - 15 March 2009
WOMAD - World of Music Arts and Dance - brings more than 300 international artists to New Plymouth’s Bowl of Brooklands for a weekend of rhythm, sights and sounds in lush parkland surroundings .
WOMAD
Wildfoods Festival - Hokitika, West Coast
14 March 2009
New Zealand's most unique event, now 20 years old, is famed for delectable weird and wonderful food innovations that this year include seaweed smoothies and wasp larvae icecream.
Wildfoods Festival
Havelock Mussel Festival - Marlborough
21 March 2009
The greenshell mussel world capital celebrates the harvest and preparation of this Marlborough Sounds delicacy with tasting, competitions and live music.
Havelock Mussel Festival
Balloons over Waikato
25 - 29 March 2009
New Zealand's premier ballooning festival where as many as 30 hot air balloons in all shapes and sizes provide a 5-day visual spectacle over the Waikato region.
Balloons over Waikato
‘Wairuaatua’ by artist Tracey Tawhiao - Matakana
Until 31 March 2009
Brick Bay Sculpture Trail, at Matakana just north of Auckland, presents Wairuaatua by New Zealand artist Tracey Tawhiao. The 'Glass House' - the architectural award-winning gateway to the Matakana vineyard 'Brick Bay Wines' - has been covered in a graffiti paint project titled Wairuaatua, meaning godly spirit or butterfly.
Brick Bay Sculpture Trail
National Jazz Festival - Tauranga
9 - 13 April 2009
New Zealand's jazz party of the year - the National Jazz Festival - turns downtown Tauranga into a celebration of food, wine, music and jazz of all flavours over the Easter holiday weekend.
National Jazz Festival
NZ International Jazz & Blues Festival - Christchurch
13 - 19 April 2009
New Zealand's largest combined jazz and blues festival whips up a musical extravaganza in Christchurch.
NZ International Jazz & Blues Festival
Tour de Wakatipu - Queenstown
17 April 2009
A major new sporting event, the New World Tour de Wakatipu, is a 45km mountain bike challenge that covers a spectacular course incorporating two lakes, two rivers and a series of new trails, finishing at the renown Chard Farm winery.
Tour de Wakatipu
Arrowtown Autumn Festival
17 - 26 April 2009
Dramatic autumn colours set the scene for this festival of traditional and contemporary entertainment in the historic and picturesque gold mining town of Arrowtown.
Arrowtown Autumn Festival
Hawke’s Bay Food & Wine Show
18 - 19 April 2009
This showcase gourmet experience takes place in the province that produces some of New Zealand's best fruit, meat, wine, oils, and cheeses.
Hawke's Bay Food & Wine Show
Southern Lakes Festival of Colour - Wanaka
28 April - 3 May 2009
The Southern Lakes Festival of Colour is a biennial celebration of the arts with six days and nights of performances and exhibitions set against the spectacular autumnal backdrop of the Southern Lakes.
Southern Lakes Festival of Colour
More information:
New Zealand Events Calendar
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